Ibaka signs 3-year pact with pro team in Spain<br/><span class='hl2'>NBA in OKC </span>

Serge Ibaka, the No. 24 overall pick in this year's draft, has signed a three-year contract with a professional team in Spain.

Ibaka's contract with Ricoh Manresa has NBA buyout clauses at the end of each season that could allow him to join Oklahoma City's franchise before the deal expires.

Serge Ibaka signed a three-year contract to play in Spain. Ibaka was drafted by Oklahoma City with the 24th pick. Associated press

Financial terms of the contract and buyout clauses are unknown, but under NBA rules teams can pay up to $500,000 to buy out a player from a foreign team.

Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti said he is aware of the signing but declined comment on the development. But Presti has said since the draft that the team will closely track Ibaka's progress, and the timetable for his arrival largely will be based on the 18-year-old power forward's improvement.

"We are excited to work with him as he continues to develop overseas,” Presti said at a June 27 news conference. "And as we're developing as a team and growing as a team he will be doing so as well in Spain, and we will be working closely with him through the process.”

Ibaka's new team could help speed his development.

Ibaka spent the past two seasons playing for CB L'Hospitalet in the Spanish LEB Gold league. He averaged 11.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and led the league in blocked shots at 3.1 per game.

Ricoh Manresa, however, competes in the 18-team Spanish ACB league, the highest division of basketball in Spain.

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